Future of Work
Why More Companies Are Moving to a Three-Day Office Week
Dan Bladen
CEO & Co-Founder
A calendar with three days of the week marked with red crosses
Get started with Kadence

See Kadence in action and start your free trial today!

Try For Free

The workplace is shifting—again. A few years ago, many leaders thought hybrid work was just a pit stop before a full return to the office (RTO). But here we are, and it’s become increasingly clear: three days in the office is becoming the sweet spot for companies across the globe.

Instead of forcing rigid five-day schedules, businesses are leaning into a structured three-day office week. And it’s not just about meeting in the middle—it’s about making hybrid work actually work. It’s a balance between in-person collaboration, employee wellbeing, and making sure those expensive office spaces are used efficiently.

Barclays Shift Toward Three Days in the Office

In the UK, big players are setting the standard. Barclays, for example, has just this week asked its UK staff to be in three days a week. The company sent a memo to many of its 85,000 employees outlining the shift, requiring them to increase their in-office days from two to three.

While Barclays has framed the change as a move to strengthen workplace culture and innovation, some employees have voiced concerns about losing the autonomy they had during more flexible hybrid arrangements. Nonetheless, it signals a growing trend in banking and beyond, as companies seek to balance flexibility with the benefits of regular in-person interactions.

Companies are even redesigning their offices to better support a three-day model. It’s no longer about just having desks available—it’s about making sure the office is a place people actually want to come to, where collaboration happens naturally, and where those in-person days feel valuable.

The Same Pattern Emerges in North America

Across the Atlantic, it’s the same story. General Mills, a giant in the retail and food industry, has adopted a three-day model to strengthen teamwork and company culture—without being too rigid.

Many other North American businesses, like Apple and Google, are coming to the same conclusion: three days hits the sweet spot. It keeps employees engaged without draining them with unnecessary commutes. It supports talent retention. And, let’s be honest, it makes better use of office space rather than leaving it half-empty all week.

In stark contrast, companies like AmazonJP Morgan, and even the U.S. federal government have taken a more rigid approach, enforcing strict return-to-office mandates. These policies have sparked backlash from employees who value flexibility and have shown that top-down directives don’t necessarily lead to higher productivity or engagement. The reality is that forcing people back five days a week ignores the success of hybrid models and the preferences of today’s workforce.

What the Data Says: Two Days is Still King, But Three is Catching Up

At Kadence, we track real-world hybrid work patterns, and here’s what the data tells us:

  • Two days in the office is still the most common pattern among hybrid workers.
  • But the average attendance is creeping up—fluctuating between two and three days per week.
  • If this trend continues, three days could soon become the new standard.

So, why is this happening? Because companies and employees are figuring out what actually works. People still value in-person collaboration—but not at the cost of flexibility. A structured three-day week allows teams to plan their in-office days better, fosters more meaningful collaboration, and makes those commutes feel more worthwhile.

Why Three Days Makes Sense (and Five Doesn't)

This isn’t about compromise—it’s about optimisation. The companies nailing hybrid work know that:

  • Productivity thrives on flexibility: People do their deep work best at home, but real creativity and problem-solving happen in person. Three days strikes that balance.

  • Office space needs to be used wisely: Businesses are rethinking their real estate strategies, making sure offices don’t sit half-empty all week.

  • Top talent expects flexibility: In both the UK and North America, companies that offer hybrid options attract and keep the best people.
What’s Next? Future-Proofing Hybrid Work

Hybrid work isn’t going anywhere. Companies that ignore flexibility risk losing talent, wasting resources, and falling behind. The data suggests we’re heading toward a three-day standard, and businesses that embrace it now will have the edge.

That’s where Kadence comes in. We help businesses make hybrid work seamless—from desk and meeting room bookings to occupancy analytics—so teams can work smarter, not harder. Get in touch to find out how we can help you and your team.

Three days in the office isn’t a compromise. It’s the future. And the smartest companies are already making it work.


Related Article
Future of Work
The Federal Government’s Optimizing Office Cuts
Two hands point at a printed graph and a calculator
Future of Work
Deloitte, PwC, EY, and KPMG: Big 4 Accounting Excel With Hybrid
Future of Work
Zuckerberg Says Hybrid Passes the Performance Test—That’s Why Meta Isn’t Changing Course